On raising a son on the autism spectrum, progressive politics, pop culture, and coffee addiction.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Keep on truckin'

Bud and I played trucks last weekend.

That probably sounds like no big deal. But it is. It's a big deal.

Bud and I have never really played trucks before. He has carried trucks around before. He has made the Bob the Builder character trucks act out scenes from videos. He has occassionally spent time standing at the top of the driveway with a truck and letting go, watching it roll slowly, slowly toward the street until it stopped, then retrieving it and starting over. And over. And over.

But in the mosquito-filled dusk of last Friday night, Bud and I raced trucks down the driveway - "Ready, set... GO!" We used chalk to measure how far the trucks could travel. The Oswald characters drove a dump truck down the street to go buy cards for their friends. Trucks made mechanical vroom-vroom noises. Trucks crashed into each other. Trucks crashed into trees.

I have read your blog today for the first time. I am really enjoying it and have been reading the archives. Your description of the scene on the airplane had me in tears. My 9 year old daughter is not autistic but she has non verbal learning disorder and some of her issues are ones facing autistic kids. I know how each day can be long and difficult. I will continue to read your blog and cheer for you and your son.

A big leap for Bud, and more imaginings to come, no doubt. I couldn't believe how amazed I was when O started playing with cars, instead of parking them in nice herringbone patterns on the rug.Great that he was playing with trucks -with- you.